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Iraqi Kurdistan regional government
defends its oil deals
7.10.2007
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October
7, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region "Iraq", -- The
prime minister of Kurdistan region on Sunday
defended his self-governing region's oil deals with
international companies, saying the agreements were
not an attempt to usurp the nation's oil resources
but a way to make them work for all the people of
Iraq.
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, who
wrote an opinion piece
published in the Wall Street Journal,
said eight contracts already had been signed and two
more were expected soon.
The central government in Baghdad is upset about the
deals, saying the Kurds should wait until the
passage of a national oil law before signing any new
contracts. But Barzani countered that the agreements
are allowed under the Iraqi constitution, "which
gives the regions of Iraq substantial control over
natural resources."
"Many in the Iraqi Oil Ministry are locked in a time
warp dating back to the regime of Saddam Hussein, in
which Baghdad holds tight control of all the
resources of Iraq and uses these resources to create
obeisance and loyalty to the center," Barzani said.
If exploration leads to oil production, 85 percent
of the profits would go to the government and the
remainder would go to the companies. The profits
would then be split — giving 83 percent to the
central government in Baghdad and 17 percent to the
Kurds, Barzani sad.
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Nechirvan Barzani, Prime
Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) |
"We want peace and prosperity for the rest of Iraq
as well," Barzani said. "We will contribute our fair
share and more to that goal."
The Iraqi Cabinet approved a draft oil law last
February and forwarded it to parliament, but
parliament, citing legal technicalities, kicked it
back to the Cabinet. The measure has been bogged
down in negotiations ever since.
Last August, the Kurds enacted their own oil law to
regulate the oil sector in the region, further
angering the central government in Baghdad.
"We waited five months for the Iraqi Assembly to
pass the agreed draft. They have not acted and there
is no sign that they will act anytime soon. We
decided to lead from the front," Barzani said in
Sunday's letter. "We are not a rogue province
seeking an early escape from the chaos that has
become Iraq."
The White House on Sept 3,
declined to criticize four controversial oil deals
inked by Iraq's Kurdistan regional government in
defiance of criticisms from leaders in Baghdad.
AP | AFP
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